Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Thaddeus S. Smith received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 2, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry. Smith was 16 years old.
27 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 5, 1900, 36 years after the action.
Smith was born on May 13, 1847 in Cumberland, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Smith died on March 14, 1933 in Port Townsend, Washington, at the age of 85. He is buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington.
Smith is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Was one of six volunteers who charged upon a log house near the Devil's Den, where a squad of the enemy's sharpshooters were sheltered, and compelled their surrender.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- May 13, 1847Born in Cumberland, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
- July 2, 1863Act of valor — Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAge 16. Company E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry
- May 5, 1900Medal of Honor presented
- March 14, 1933Died in Port Townsend, WashingtonAge 85.
- Resting placeLaurel Grove CemeteryPort Townsend, Washington
Biography
Thaddeus Stevens Smith (May 13, 1847 – March 14, 1933) was a soldier from Pennsylvania who fought for the Union in the American Civil War. He received the United States' highest medal for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Gettysburg on 2 July 1863. He was issued the medal on 5 May 1900.
From the Wikipedia article “Thaddeus S. Smith”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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